Success of schools benefits everyone

The citizens of Chillicothe live in a community in decline. There is a blight on the downtown area and has been for 10 long years with the Carlisle building and other structures being in a state of disrepair to the point it is surprising we are not nicknamed the "Detroit" of small towns.

Our local economy can't seem to support basic fire protection and garbage collection on a consistent basis - in a town where there is abundant business and industry and good employment rates. It just seems our community is adrift in a downward direction with no real hope of reversing the trend.

However, one thing we do have going for us is our school system. It is first-rate in spite of cuts and constraints imposed by a shaky economy and rising costs. Our school system still offers a wide variety of programs and a high-quality curriculum that can be found nowhere in the county. It is one thing, not the only thing, that we can point to in this community and say "that is a good thing. That is an excellent thing."

We need to keep it that way. In order to do it, proper funding is mandatory. You get what you pay for.

Perhaps our strong, funded school system can be a starting point for people to look at our community and decide we are tired of a blighted downtown and governmental impotence when it comes to management - and want to bring about changes to bring pride back to our community.

Vote for the school levy on May 7. It will be good for the kids, no doubt. At the same time, it will be good for all of us.